Una Slap Maxen: A Short Story

So the next week went with Audra wanting to punch Una, slap Maxen, and curse the gods for everything wrong in her life. Instead, she focused her energies on constantly bedding her husband and trying to make Maxen jealous, because that was the type of woman she’d become – petty, jealous, and disloyal to her own husband. She did not want to be this woman but couldn’t stop herself. And there was no one with whom she might share her inner turmoil, not unless she wanted to find herself without a head.
One sunny winter morning, Audra went to call on Maxen, as the weather was ideal for training, sunny and still, but found he was bot in his quarters. When she asked about his whereabouts, Jac said Maxen had traded a patrol shift so he could take Una out riding.
“I see,
Allow me to escort Lady Una to –”
“Jac!” shouted Audra, sounding like a shrill beast. He rushed over.
“Your Highness?”
“Please escort Lady Una to… wherever it is she’d like to go.”
Una turned beet red and averted her eyes. Was this bitty, beautiful woman already so in love with Maxen she couldn’t bear to be parted from him?
“Of course, my lady.” Jac offered his elbow to Una, and with a shaky hand, she accepted his arm and wandered away.
“Armory!” Audra barked, and stomped off well ahead of Maxen. He didn’t bother trying to catch up.
Audra changed clothes quickly, pulled on mail, and didn’t bother with armor. When she went for her sword, Maxen objected, and said they needed a few more sessions with the practice weapons. Perhaps Maxen worried Audra would take off his head otherwise, as she all but radiated hostility.
Again, Audra trained as if her life depended on it. Out in the ring, she blocked, lunged, and swung her wooden sword with such ferocity she scared herself. For the first time, she understood the reality of battle lust, because she sure had it.
After a long sparring session, Maxen suggested a break.
“Fine.” Audra drank from her waterskin. “But a run next.”
“If that’s what you